Milwaukee Mafia
Milwaukee had a mafia, and they were no small potatoes.
Gavin Schmitt
Show overview
Milwaukee Mafia has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 199 episodes, alongside 5 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 110 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 3rd season.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 25 min and 42 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language True Crime show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 19 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 54 episodes published. Published by Gavin Schmitt.
From the publisher
Did you know Milwaukee had a Mafia? Many people don't realize how powerful the Milwaukee Mafia was - especially during Frank Balistrieri's impressive 30-year reign! Gavin Schmitt has been researching and writing published works on the Milwaukee Mafia for over a decade, and is considered the top expert on the subject. Join Gavin Schmitt and Eric Wulterkens as Gavin takes you through stories of the Milwaukee Mafia, and related Wisconsin true crime. For more information, visit MilwaukeeMafia.com
Latest Episodes
View all 199 episodesMarty Buccieri
Dirty Helen Followup
Leroy Bell and Prostitution
A Look at Milwaukee Mafia Bosses
Sid Ceasar, Joseph Pipito and Prostitution
Car Bomber Secret Revealed
S3 Ep 161North Brook Inn And Sallys Steakhouse Part 2
Hear the sentencing results of last weeks episode--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 149Dirty Helen Part 2
Gavin completes the story of Dirty Helen, as she works in a event in Appleton WI, then moves from Superior to Milwaukee, opens up a dive bar that she makes famous herself by spending her days telling her crazy stories to the patreons of the bar--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 161North Brook Inn And Sallys Steakhouse Part 1
When the head chef of sally's steakhouse leaves to start his own restaurant the North Brook Inn, it launches quite excessive and unexpected events.--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 148Dirty Helen
a readers question about a famous call girl in Milwaukee known as Dirty Helen leads to the discovery of a biography written by her. In this 2 part series Gavin takes on on the history of Dirty Helen and the significant people and things that occurred in her life--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 147Tamara Rand and A Vegas Casino
Learn about the Mafia buying a casino using 500K of Tamara Rands money. Instead of paying her back she winds up dead.--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 148The Free Masons, The Mafia, and the Catholic Church
A question from a listener about wether the Free Masons and the mafia ever worked together (spoiler: it appears they did not). But in Gavin research of the questions he discovers the Catholic religions hatred of the free masons and we discuss some of the terrible things the church has said about the Masons over the years--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 146Phil Valley Ben Barwick and Local 122
Learn the story of John Balistreri became a part of the Local Restaurant Bar Union and hear John reflect on his experiences--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 148Biker Gangs and the Mafia
In this short segment we discuss any connections between the Mafia and Biker gangs in Milwaukee.--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 145Rocco Youse and Del Chemical Part 2
Hear the conclusion of the Rocco Yous story--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 148Internet Archive
Upon a listeners request Gavin dives into how he is able to post all the files he has access to the internet archive and we both encourage you to it all as well :)--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 144Rocco Youse and Del Chemical Part 1
Hear the story of massive chemical company that has some shady business practices and some strong ties to the Mafia--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 148D&D
A listeners questions takes Gavin down a rabbit hole to find any occult occurrences in Milwaukee. He is not able to find much but does find story of a prisoner at the Waupun State Prison as he fights to keep his ability to play Dungeons and Dragons while serving his sentence--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 143A Murder and John Buys a company
In this episode we hear how the murder of a vending company owner leads to John Balistreri buying his company and getting into the vending business--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/
S3 Ep 142Epitome of Courage
As discussed in the previous Patreon episode Gavin reads the book Epitome of Courage and discusses the meeting that happened between the Milwaukee Mafia and a gang from Chicago that was big into the vending business, drugs, as well as purchasing missiles from the Libyans.--Join the Milwaukee Mafia Newsletter and get updates about the Mafia and Gavin https://milwaukeemafia.com/join-the-mailing-list/Got a question about this episode? Email Gavin and Eric at [email protected] the Milwaukee Mafia Wiki: https://milwaukeemafia.com/Become part of the Family: https://www.patreon.com/Milwaukeemafia--Gavin Schmitt is the leading historical expert on the mafia in Wisconsin. He has written several books on the subject and regularly speaks across the country.Get Gavin’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Schmitt/e/B00E749XFSBook Gavin for a Presentation: https://gavinschmitt.com/